So far, these playoffs have defied prediction, as our playoff prediction contest tends to demonstrate. Interestingly though, there seems to be a very clear favourite in the series between Los Angeles and New Jersey.

Writer Picks

Writer

Team

Games

Kent Wilson

LA

6

Jason Gregor

LA

6

Lowetide

LA

6

Vintage Flame

LA

6

Ryan Pike

LA

6

Jonathan Willis

LA

7

Justin Azevedo

LA

5

If our predictions mean anything, Los Angeles will win the Stanley Cup in a six game series over the New Jersey Devils. There is a clear consensus among our writers on that score.

The Standings

However, as these standings show, that consensus may bear little relationship to what actually happens in the series. Note – I’ve included everyone who has entered at any point, even if only for one round, so some of the percentages below don’t reflect the fact that the entrant may have missed a round or three.

Writer

Total Score

Percentage

Beavis

9

64.3%

schevvy

9

64.3%

~S~K~

8

57.1%

BigE91

8

57.1%

Cam Charron

8

57.1%

Dunnonuttin

8

57.1%

geoilersgist

8

57.1%

greenlightning86

8

57.1%

Johe

8

57.1%

Wax Man Riley

8

57.1%

Vintage Flame

8

57.1%

Bucknuck

7

50.0%

D

7

50.0%

First Name Unidentified

7

50.0%

Horcsky

7

50.0%

Jason Gregor

7

50.0%

Koolaid drinker #33

7

50.0%

Mantastic

7

50.0%

master of my domain

7

50.0%

Matt Stephen

7

50.0%

Oilers4ever

7

50.0%

Orange-n-Blue

7

50.0%

Danny Gray

6

42.9%

david

6

42.9%

EvanAllTogether

6

42.9%

ItsTheBGB

6

42.9%

John Cullen

6

42.9%

Jonathan Willis

6

42.9%

Lowetide

6

42.9%

madjam

6

42.9%

maimster

6

42.9%

Mason Storm

6

42.9%

Number 44

6

42.9%

Oilerpride15

6

42.9%

TLHansum

6

42.9%

yawto

6

42.9%

Alberto's dad

5

35.7%

ashley

5

35.7%

DieHard

5

35.7%

Justin Azevedo

5

35.7%

Kent Wilson

5

35.7%

Quicksilver ballet

5

35.7%

Time Travelling Sean

5

35.7%

Woodguy

5

35.7%

Abby W.

4

28.6%

Brett Mitchell

4

28.6%

Cam Davie

4

28.6%

Ern Beckett

4

28.6%

icedawg_42

4

28.6%

James

4

28.6%

Jeff Angus

4

28.6%

Marda Miller

4

28.6%

mayorpoop

4

28.6%

Nate Sans Hate

4

28.6%

ncomas

4

28.6%

oilderrick

4

28.6%

Oilers G

4

28.6%

Rob Vollman

4

28.6%

shanetrain

4

28.6%

Thomas Drance

4

28.6%

Tim in Kelowna

4

28.6%

Trentonl

4

28.6%

Wes Mantooth

4

28.6%

Colin

3

21.4%

Come join the Dark Parade

3

21.4%

dan

3

21.4%

Gitagrip

3

21.4%

gord962

3

21.4%

John Lofranco

3

21.4%

Patrick Johnston

3

21.4%

Tinfoil Tuque

3

21.4%

Wanyes bastard child

3

21.4%

Chris

2

14.3%

Copperblueandwhite

2

14.3%

Dawn

2

14.3%

everton fc

2

14.3%

Fight Club

2

14.3%

mark

2

14.3%

Mattthemascot

2

14.3%

Ryan Fancey

2

14.3%

Dan the Man

1

7.1%

Ron Burgundy

1

7.1%

Sincity1976

1

7.1%

SLAM

1

7.1%

Once again, I list my name above Lowetide’s even though we’re tied. You might think thhis has to do with alphabetical order, but you would be wrong; I do this solely because of his merciless ribbing after out-predicting the entire field last year.

Get your predictions for the Final in below.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

Ha. I only started playing last round. Got one of them which gets me tied for last place.

I think LA in 5. LA has already walked through two strong teams. Phoenix as well. So I don't buy into the myth that the next round is going to be any tougher.

On a side note, at the beginning of the year I bet on three teams to win the cup. Calgary because I am a sucker. Buffalo because they were my dark horse. And LA because I thought they would win the cup.

Only I completely forgot I bet on LA until I logged into bodog the other day. Nice surprise! At least now I have some reason to watch the cup finals. LA vs NJ? Really? Yawn.

Ha. I only started playing last round. Got one of them which gets me tied for last place.

I think LA in 5. LA has already walked through two strong teams. Phoenix as well. So I don't buy into the myth that the next round is going to be any tougher.

On a side note, at the beginning of the year I bet on three teams to win the cup. Calgary because I am a sucker. Buffalo because they were my dark horse. And LA because I thought they would win the cup.

Only I completely forgot I bet on LA until I logged into bodog the other day. Nice surprise! At least now I have some reason to watch the cup finals. LA vs NJ? Really? Yawn.

My decision to go with 5 games was entirely based on the fact that NJ is the home team and LA has been tearing it up on the road. If LA had home ice advantage I would have said 6 games.

Tied for the lead!! Shows that the people of Lethbridge know their stuff! (well, some of them)

I'm not sure what my co-leader Beavis is picking, but I'll go LA in 6. If he picks the same I may go opposite. Go for it all!

I've been picking counterintuitively for much of these three rounds and it seems to have worked out, so I'll do it again and go for New Jersey in 7 (but I'll admit that this in part due to the fact that schevvy above picked LA and it works out better if one of us gets to be the overall winner). Part of the pick is based on something I read, maybe at NHL numbers, maybe at Backhand shelf, about LA and hot streaks and how they have to end at some point. We shall see. I'm happy either way as I'd love to see Penner win the cup again.

Gotta be careful not to cheer for too many teams. Like NJ a bit with Brodeur, Parise and Zajac. Like a long series when I'm too broke for alternatives (like buying hockey DVDs and watching Ivan Hlinka). But expect LA sweep.
NYR didn't look good and I'm a big Lundqvist fan. Beat Holtby.
LA got injured Sedin, and Pieterangelo, and offensively challenged (for final 4) Phx. Still LA dominated.
If Salvador is best NJ defenseman, Zidlicky prolly getting a little soft... LA has lots of young defenseman and added 5 players by deadline. Weirdly LA's young D look solid compared to NYR turnover machines and Girardi 5 holes.
I think Brodeur is a 10-15 goalie. Hmm, maybe I like Lundqvist better than Quick. Gaborik isn't as agile or strong as before injuries and when young. I do like Parise and Kovachuk better than Kopitar and Richards but NJ just doesn't match up on FW. All LA is missing is a #2 D and would be trult dominant.